Explusion of Romani people from Kosovo
| Explusion of Romani people from Kosovo | |
|---|---|
| Part of Kosovo War | |
 Romani girl in Prizren | |
| Location | area inhabited by romani people in Kosovo |
| Date | 1999 |
| Target |  Romani people |
Attack type | Ethnic cleansing, forced displacement |
| Victims | Approximately 50,000 displaced Romani |
| Perpetrators |  Kosovo Liberation Army |
| Motive | Anti-Romani sentiment and Perception of Romani collaboration with Serbian forces |
A mass expulsion of Romani people from Kosovo occured during the Kosovo War in the late 1990s. The districts of Gjakova, Peja and Prizren were the most targeted regions, since most of the Roma population was concentrated there.[1][2]
Background
[edit]The Romani people have lived in Kosovo for centuries, with historical records indicating their presence as early as the 15th century. Over time, they formed a significant minority group in the region, living alongside Albanians, Serbs, and other ethnic communities. Traditionally, the Romani in Kosovo were involved in various trades, such as metalworking, music, and agriculture, while some maintained a nomadic lifestyle.
Attack
[edit]During the kosovo war the KLA reportedly expelled approximately 50,000 Romani from their homes, most went to live in Central Serbia while other remained there, searching for refuge in other regions.[3]
Most of the KLA crimes include:
- Forced displacement and expulsion from homes
- Looting of Romani neighborhoods
- Abduction and illegal detention
- Ethnic cleansing campaigns
- Forced labor and exploitation
- Denial of basic humanitarian aid and resources
According to ex-KLA members, these actions were mostly done because the Romani people were perceived to be collaborators with the Serbian government and forces during the Kosovo War.[4] The KLA believed that many Romani had sided with or supported Serbian national interests, which led to their targeting as part of broader ethnic cleansing campaigns aimed at removing perceived enemies of an independent Kosovo.[5] Additionally, long-standing prejudices and social marginalization of the Romani community further contributed to the violence and exploitation they faced during and after the conflict.[6]
Return and current status
[edit]In the years following the conflict, some Romani families have returned to Kosovo, although many continue to face difficulties in reclaiming their homes and integrating into Kosovar society. Discrimination, lack of legal recognition, and limited access to education, employment, and healthcare have hindered the full reintegration of the Romani population in the region.[7] Efforts to rebuild the Romani community in Kosovo have been met with mixed results. International organizations, such as the United Nations and the European Union, have provided assistance to returning Romani but most of the romani population has spoken about how most of the ex-KLA members that did these crimes should be put in jail but those requests have not been listened by the Government of Kosovo.[8]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Cahn, Claude; Peric, Tatjana (1999-07-15). "Roma and the Kosovo conflict". European Roma Rights Centre.
- ^ "The-Wall-of-Anti-Gypsyism-Roma-in-Kosovo" (PDF). crd.org. March 2018.
- ^ "roma-tell-long-neglected-stories-of-kosovo-wars-enduring-impact". Balkan Insight. 2023-01-09.
- ^ Sula-Raxhimi, Enkelejda (2019). "Reading the Present Through the Past: The Roma in Postwar Kosovo". Nationalities Papers. 47 (2): 217–231. doi:10.1017/nps.2018.23.
- ^ "The Struggles of Roma in Kosovo". FXB Center for Health & Human Rights. Harvard University. 19 June 2015.
- ^ "Abuses Against Serbs and Roma in the New Kosovo". Human Rights Watch. August 1999.
- ^ "roma-refugees-from-kosovo-still-suffering-exclusion-in-serbia-report". Balkan Insight. 2024-07-26.
- ^ "Roma in Kosovo: The justice that never came". Al Jazeera. 2017-01-26.